Press for the packaging of bundles of currency



Oct. 25, 1949. P. w. THOMAS 2,485,789

Y PRESS FOR THE PACKAGINGAOFVBUNDLES OF' CURRENCY Filed June 27, 1947 F592. a 3 3 AN 262W 36 ATTORN EY Patented oct. z5, 1949 PRESS FOR THE PACKAGING F BUNDLES OF CURRENCY Paul W. Thomas, Jamaica, N. Y.

Application June 27, 1947, Serial No. 757,458

2 Claims.

In the handling and storage of currency in- -Volving a large number of bills, i. e., a number running into the thousands, it is the practice `of banks for their own use and the use of devppositors to form bound packages of a large number of bills, usually a thousand, of a particular denomination, each package ussually comprising twenty bundles, each of `fty bills held together by a centrally located paper strap. The bills are held together as a package by binding cords or wires looped about the bundles adjacent the ends of the package and having their meeting ends secured by a tying operation. The preparation of such packages involves arduous hand work, the skin ofthe clerks hands after several hours of such work being scored and torn with resultant physical discomfort and, in the absence of sterilization of the bills, with liability of the communication of disease from germs carried by the bills. The cords or wires Valso cause darnage to the edges and ends of the bills and, if drawn too tightly, cause buckling of the package.

.Such packages and the method of forming them do not permit the provision of any means of identification with the clerk by whom they were .prepared or of identication otherwise. It is the practice of banks to deposit the packages of currency in a storage vault and, as a package of particular denomination may be required, to remove it from the vault. Anyone who has access to the vault may readily eiect the substitution in a package of a bundle of bills of a small denomination for a bundle of larger denomination. For example, if the package be composed of twenty bundles, each of x100 dollar denomination bills, one or more such bundles, without serious diflculty and because of the stretching capacity of the binding cords or wires, may be abstracted from the package and a bundle or bundles of bills of smaller e. g., one dollar., denomination, substituted. Such substitution has been encountered on many occasions; it may remain undetected for months; and, in the absence of any identication of the package, it is exceedingly difficult, and frequently impossible, to trace it to its source.

The invention proposes a press for forming bundles of currency into packages which has special features enabling the operation to be accomplished much more easily and rapidly than heretofore, providing for a more compact package, and enabling the bundles quickly and readily to be secured together as a package by nonstretchable binding straps of such character and dimensions that appropriate identifying data may or initials of .the `clerk by whom the packages were prepared, -the .date of .preparation of the packages, and other Yappropriate information.

In the ,accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan `View of a press in accordance with ,the invention, Athe `plunger being shown in retracted relation to enable the lpositioning of *the bundles ,of bills in preparation for the opera- 'tion of the .press and the actuating handle of the toggle mechanism being shown'as partly broken away.

Figure 2 is a side elevation .with parts insection, the plunger being shown in full lines in projected or operative position and indot and dash 'lines in ,retracted position, Ithe plunger operating parts ,being 4correSD,Ondingly shown.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional viewon the line 3T3-of Figure 1.

Figure A .is a perspective View of one of the bundles of currency.

Figure y5 is .a .perspective View showing the bundleso currency associated as a package with one end of each 4of the binding straps inserted between adjacent bundles, the bundles being ready for .pressingand .binding vinto a package.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a completely boundand marked package of currency.

Figure ,7 is va detailed yplan View .showing an optional modiiication of the transverse stops by which vthe packageis heldduring the operation of the press.

The pressincludes abase l0 which may comprise a central bar Vll ,and side bars I5, one at each sideof the bar Il .and Ysecured kin parallel vspaced relation to ,it by ,a transverse strap i4 located near the `front endof the .base and a transverseblock 3.4 located ,near kthe rear end of .the base.

The bars LI and E|,5.arel preferably of T-shape ysection and vZ-shape section, (respectively. The bar Il `hasa lhead ,flange l2 and a central web or flange L3 and y,the ,bars .l5 have a horizontal web I6 and oppositely extending vertical anges Il andJ 8respectively.

The spacing of `the ,bars I, 5 from the bar Il providesparallel slots l9and.the.co,planar flange I2 and webs L6 together withthespaced vertical flanges of bars L5 provideashallow upwardly opening way 2,0 vto receive thebundles of currency. The Lvertical .flanges 'Il have a mutual `spacingslightly v greater than the klength of the bundles of currency. The flanges Il therefore yconiine `,the bundles y.of currency A,against lateral displacement ,andcpoperate as' V,guides with the be stamped or imprinted on them, i. e., the name 15g lowerportions of the endedges ofthe bundles.

- 3 The transversely alined forward or left ends of the bars II and I5 (Figures 1 and 2) have Isecured thereto by rivets 23 angle brackets 2l, the upright arms 22 of which serve as translversely alined stops against which the forward bundle is pressed in forming a package. The spacing of the arms 22 provides vertical slots 22a in alinement or registry with the slots I6 and through which the package binding straps may freely pass.

The forward portions of the downwardly extending flanges I8 of the bars I5 in the area in which the package is pressed are removed (Figures 1 and 2) to further facilitate application of the binding tapes to the package. Rearwardly of this area flanges I8 and I3 are formed with transversely alined rectangular slots or openings 24 to accommodate the strap I4 which is secured to the lower surfaces of flange I2 and webs I6 by rivets 215. The flat heads of the rivets 23 and 25 are flush `with the upper surfaces of the flange I2 and webs I6 of the Way 28 whereby the lower edges of the bundles of currency are not damaged in their movement along the way during the formation of the package. The anges I3 and I8 are vertically co-extensive and provide stable support for the press upon any appropriate surface, e. g., the surface of a desk or table.

A block 26 for applying pressure to the rear face of the rearmost bundle of currency, when the bundles are placed in the way 20 for packaging, is transversely mounted in the way for free sliding fore and aft movement. The forward face of block 26 is provided with a plurality of vertical end ribs 21 and intermediate ribs 28, the latter being so spaced as to provide vertical slots 28a'as continuations of the slots I9 and serving for the passage of the binding straps. The vertical ribs (2l, 28) and the stops 22 are companion co-operating elements for the application of pressure to the bundles of currency which constitute the completed package.

The block 26 may be projected or retracted by any suitable mechanism, preferably a toggle mechanism as shown. This mechanism, designated generally as 29, includes a front bar 3U which at its front end is pivotally connected,as at 26a, to the rear side of the block 26. The toggle mechanism also includes a rear bar 3l, the forward end of which is pivotally vconnected to the rear end of the bar 30 as at 32; and the rear end of which is pivotally connected as at 33 to'the cross block 34 secured upon the ange I2 and webs I6 by rivets 35. When the toggle member 30 is in its fully projected or extended pressure applying position as shown in Figure 2, the pivotal connection 32 between the bars 30 and 3I lies slightly below a plane intersecting the pivotal connections 26a. and 33, i. e., in a Zone of dead center, thereby to lock the toggle mechanism against accidental release during application of the binding tape to the package.

The toggle mechanism is actuated, and thereby the block 26 is projected or retracted as the case l may be, by a handle 36 arranged above the toggle bars and rigidly secured to the rear toggle bar 3I beyond which, with the parts in the positions shown in full lines in Figure 2, it projects forwardly and rests upon the toggle bars. In this relation of the parts the lifting or raising of the handle 36 eifects the upward movement of the rear bar 3| about its pivot 33 and thereby effects the retraction of the block 26 in the obvious manner, the fully retracted position of the block, and the corresponding positions of the parts of the toggle mechanism, being shown in dot and dash lines of Figure 2.

With the parts in the relationship shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 2 the press is ready for the initiation of the packaging operation The rst step in the packaging operation is to place the bundles Cv of currency (bills) in the way 20 with the front or foremost bundle abutting the upright arms 22 and the bundles arranged generally in close or adjoining relation with their end edges in alinement. The handle 36 is then swung forwardly from the dot and dash lines position of Figure 2 to bring the block 26 into engagement with the rearmost bundle. At this stage the movement of the handle is not continued to a point at which compression pressure is placed upon the bundles, the pressure of the block 26 upon the rearmost bundle being merely that which is effected by the weight of the bars 38 and 3l and handle 36 and merely`sumcient to maintain the associated relation of the bundles as above described. Since the bundles are not at this time under strong compression the end portions A of the binding straps S may be readily inserted between any adjoining pairs of bundles as shown in Figures 2 and 5.

When the end portions A of the binding straps have been insertedI between vadjoining pairs of bundles the group of bundles is placed under stro-ng compression by pushing the handle 36 to the limit of its downward movement as shown in full lines in Figure 2. In the embodiment` disclosed such limit is provided by the abutting relation of the adjacent end faces of the bars 38 and 3l. Thereby the block 26 through the ribs 21 and 28 applies eifective compression pressure (of the order of one hundred pounds) to bundles.

the group of associated bundles, the degree of compression being uniform for all similar packages and being greater than the compression obtained in the hand packaging operations heretofore practiced. The compression operation is accomplished in a' substantial fraction of the ttime required by the prior hand packaging operaions.

The degree of the compression pressure is such that the bundles between which the` strap end portions A are inserted bear with frictional contact upon said inserted portions sufliciently strong to hold them securely while the straps S are looped, under tension, about the bundles. In effecting the looping of the straps S the opposite end portions B of the straps are inserted in a downward direction through the slots 28a provided by the ribs 28 and are then grasped from below and pulled forward to apply suitable ten- -sion to the straps and to cause portions E of the straps to occupy the slots I9. At this stage the straps will have uniform smooth contact with the upper edges of the bundles in the rear of the portions A, with the rearmost face of the rear bundle C and with the lower edges of all of the The uniform contact of the portions E of the straps with the lower edges of the bundles may be facilitated by smoothing them with the lingers, access to the straps for this purpose beingprovided by the cutaway portions of the flanges I8. As shown in Figure 5 the straps may be partially looped about the bundles before the final compression movement of the block 26 or, as assumed in the preceding description, the looping of the straps about the bundles may be deferred until the completion of the package.

The straps, brought into contacting relation with the bundles when suitably tensioned andy as above `describlfed, 'are b'ent about the front face *of the foremost `bimdle C.; and the .portions .B Lare bent over Athe upper "edges vhof 'the vbundles C which are iin vadvance of thelportions A and overllaid upon, and secured to, the strap :parts which y'extend rearward -from the portions A. The end rportions B, Afor the purpose of `their securement =are preferably formed withfgummed linner faces vby means of which they are caused to adhere to 'the underlying strap portions. With lthe :portions B thus secured the straps :provide complete loops, appropriately tensioned and snugly fitting, for Lthe ipurpos'e of y'holding the package within the Yoverall dimensions and under the strong com- .pressionfpressure Which-areeffected'by the operation of Athe press. The complete Xloops provided by vthe:-:traps Sfare -shown'in Figures-2 and 6.

The 'notes comprising each bundle 1C are `con- :fned in closely associated relation by a central hstrap T which, -as =a loop, is normal to -the 'upper Aand lower edges of the notes -as shown in Figure =4. Thus in vveach bundle -C there will lbe sections of the strap T 4overlying the adjacent faces of =the -foremost and rearmost notes. These strap -sections will increase -the thickness of the bundle Sin-its'central part. Ina group of twenty associated bundles there will be forty overlying sections'of thestrap `'Ibwhich will increase the overall thickness of the central portion of the group by an increment corresponding substantially to the width of .a single bundle of fty bills. It :follows that v4the completed package win have a greater dimension in a central 'transverse zone than elsewhere. The'construction provides compensation for this increase of thickness. The pair of vcentrally located ribs 28 provide a vertical slot orrecess lZ'Bbjthe 'function of'which is to accominodate 'the "above explained 'increment of 'thickness in the central transverse Zone while enabling the compression pressure effected by the ribs 28 to be uniformly applied. The same result may be accomplished by making the central transverse stop of channel cross section as shown at '22h in Figure '7. If desired the recess 28 and the channeled stop 22h may both be employed. In the completed package the central bulge is at both sides of the package and is of such small relative degree'that it does not appreciably interfere with the stacking of the packages.

In the completed package (Figure 6) the closely packed or compressed relation of the associated bundles of currency, as effected by the press, is maintained by the straps S which are of paper or any other suitable flexible non-stretchable material, e. g., cellophane. The straps S are relatively Wide, for example, one and one-fourth inches, and effectively maintain the bundles C under compression without liability of mutilating or tearing the upper and'lower edges of the notes. The width of the straps enables them to bear appropriate identification data which is indicated at D in Figure 6. Such data may comprise the name or initials of the clerk who prepared the package, the date of its preparation and the value of the package according to the denomination of the bills comprising the several bundles. The data D may be printed or stamped upon the straps or partly printed and partly stamped. The

` supply of straps Will be assigned to the particular clerk whose name or initials is included in the data D; or a stampbearing his name or initials may be assigned to the clerk, the stamp being used to impress the name or initials upon the straps. The clerks, of course, are personally responsible for the straps or stamps bearing their several names or initials. In this way ythe package carries a complete Aand .permanent lstatement lof its identity in respect Ito the clerk who :prepared it, .the 'dateof its preparation, :and its value. The data D is not removable land thereby the straps S, in effect, provide seals. Any :attempt to remove or alter the ldata D will :mutilate lthe seal, and such mutilation will be indicative of an 'attempt to tamper with the package.

It will be obvious that the functional portions of the parallel bars Il and I5, in respect to the formation of the package, are those which suby'tend the area occupied by a group of bundles as initially positioned against the abutments v22; and that rearwardly beyond this area `the -base may comprise a solid plate, the illustration -of which is, of course, unnecessary. It will, of course, be obvious that in its support upon-a horizontal surface the press may be either loosely mounted (portable) or fixed; also that the bars ll and l5 and slots I9, functionally considered, may project beyond the horizontal supporting surface. It will alsobe obvious that the press may 'be arranged vertically as well as horizontally, that is to say, by fixed attachment to a vertical support and that the functional -portions `of 'the bars H and I5 in slots |9 may extend lloeyond the support.

I claim:

1. For the formation of a .group of bundles of currency, the notes of each bundle being-confined 4by a central strap, into La package `in which the bundles and their components are in a close association eiected by applied .pressure andare so `permanently maintained'by relativelywide straps of exible, 'non-stretchable, -material looped unlder tension about the ypackage near its ends and having overlying portions secured together, a press comprising a base having upwardly extending longitudinal marginal flanges and thereby formed as a way in which bundles of currency may be transversely arranged and guided for sliding movement longitudinally of the Way, the base being formed with longitudinal slots extending through the area in which compression of the bundles is effected, a plurality of transversely spaced stops normal to and secured at th forward end of said way for limiting the forward movement of the bundles, the spacing of the stops providing vertical slots in alinement with and constituting angular continuations of the slots of the base, a block slidably mounted in the way and operative in its forward movement to compress bundles of currency against said stops, the block having upon its front face transversely spaced vertical ribs for direct engagement with the adjacent bundle, certain pairs of said ribs providing vertical recesses or slots in alinement with and constituting continuations of the slots in the base, the slots in the base and the slots provided by the spacing of the stops and the ribs enabling the application 0f the straps to the package While it is held under compression, the straps being looped under tension about the package to maintain it under compression, the stops and the ribs severally constituting opposed series of companion elements for the application of compression pressure to the bundles, the centrally 1ocated elements of at least one of the opposed series providing a vertical slot for the accommodation of the increment of thickness of the package due to the central straps about the several bundles, and means for effecting a slidable movement of the block in either longitudinal direction of the Way, the base being provided adjacent its sides with longitudinal supporting anges of uniform depth and the anges being cut away throughout an extent commensurate with the slotted area of the base in which compression of the bundles is eiected.

2. For the formation of a group of bundles of currency, the notes of each bundle being confined by a central strap, into a package in which the bundles and their components are in a close association elected by applied pressure and are so permanenty maintained by relatively wide straps of exible, non-stretchable, material looped under tension about the package near its ends and having overlying portions secured together, a press comprising a base having up- Wardly extending longitudinal marginal anges and thereby formed as a way in which bundles of currency may be transversely arranged and guided for sliding movement longitudinally of the way, the base being formed with longitudinal slots extending through the area in which compression of the bundles is eiected, a plurality of transversely spaced stops normal to and secured at the forward end of said way for limiting the forward movement of the bundles, the spacing of the stops providing vertical slots in alinement with and constituting angular continuations of the slots of the base, a block slidably mounted in the way and operative in its forward movement to compress bundles of currency against said stops, the block having upon its front face transversely spaced vertical ribs for direct engagement with the adjacent bundle, certain pairs of said ribs providing vertical recesses or slots in alinement with and constituting continuations of the slots in the base, the slots in the base and the slots provided by the spacing of the stops and the ribs enabling the application of the straps to the package while it is held under compression, the straps being looped under tension about the package to maintain it under compression, the stops and the ribs severally constituting opposed series of companion elements for the application of compression pressure to the bundles, the centrally located elements of `at least one of the.

opposed series providing a vertical slot for the accommodation of the increment of thickness of the package due to the central straps about the several bundles, and means for effecting a slidable movement of the block in either longitudinal direction of the Way, the base at its upper side and adjacent its rear end being provided with a fixed 'cross bar and the means'for effecting the slidable movement of the block comprising a toggle mechanism which consists of a rear arm pivotally connected at its rear end adjacent its under side to the cross bar, a front arm pivotally connected at its front end and adjacent its upper side to the block, a pivotal connection between said arms adjacent their under faces, and an Operating handle rigidly secured to and upon the rear arm and in the advanced position of theblock projecting from the rear arm in a forward direction.

PAUL W. THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this partent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 628,183 Painter et al. July 4, 1899 736,627 Pray Aug. 18. 1903 

